Sennheiser Momentum 5 Wireless review: Worth the wait

RATING : 8.5 / 10

Four years is simply a agelong clip to spell betwixt headphone models. While immoderate companies debut caller models each twelvemonth aliases two, others push their update cycles retired farther. Of course, nan use of extending a product's lifespan is location will apt beryllium much a institution tin connection by measurement of important improvements. If nan features are considerably amended alternatively than conscionable iterative, it makes immoderate caller group of headphones much compelling to anyone who owns nan erstwhile generation.

Sennheiser past updated its Momentum Wireless headphones successful 2022, and astatine that clip nan highlights were a wholly caller look and 60-hour artillery life. Now, nan Momentum 5 Wireless is here, pinch important improvements to sound and progressive sound cancellation (ANC) arsenic nan standouts. The institution has an oculus connected longevity arsenic well, opting for a user-replaceable artillery to widen nan merchandise life rhythm moreover further. But, arsenic always, location are immoderate caveats.

I didn't attraction for nan plain, mostly integrative creation of nan Momentum 4. After publishing my review, I publication a batch of comments astir really nan stellar sound and highly agelong artillery life made nan forgettable artistic little of an issue. I tin surely understand that logic, but I was besides happy to spot that Sennheiser made immoderate flimsy tweaks to nan creation of nan Momentum 5 to springiness it a much premium look.

For starters, nan Sennheiser logos connected nan headband are now connected textured metallic discs alternatively of conscionable being truthful evidently plastic. The institution besides made nan receptor cups each 1 piece, getting free of what utilized to look for illustration a abstracted headdress connected nan outside. This alteration besides nixes nan indention astir nan separator of nan receptor cup, completing nan seamless look. Finally, Sennheiser added metallic accents to nan microphone grilles, adorning them pinch Momentum 5 and institution logos connected nan near and correct cups respectively.

Like nan erstwhile model, there's a azygous fastener connected nan separator of nan correct receptor cup for powerfulness and Bluetooth pairing. It's besides utilized to shut up nan mics during calls, aliases to summon your sound assistant. For nan playback and ANC controls, nan extracurricular of nan correct receptor cup is simply a touch sheet that accepts swipes and taps — conscionable for illustration it did connected nan Momentum 4. There's besides a two-finger pinch motion that adjusts nan level of adaptive sound cancellation aliases transparency mode, depending connected which is active. Lastly, a two-finger double pat will alteration Dolby Atmos audio.

Beside nan powerfulness button, Sennheiser installed a statement of 5 LEDs that service arsenic artillery level and pairing mode indicators. The 1 ray astatine nan extremity will flash reddish to fto you cognize you've successfully turned nan headphones off. There's besides a USB-C jack and 3.5mm audio larboard here. Inside nan near receptor cup, down nan removable receptor pad, lies a user-replaceable battery. When nan clip comes, you'll request a mini Phillips-head screwdriver to region nan 4 mini screws holding nan driver sheet successful place, earlier you tin entree and switch retired nan battery.

The Smart Control Plus app is wherever you set nan Momentum 5's settings. There's a caller 8-band EQ here, giving you much capacity to dial successful nan headphones' sound profile, positive a number of audio presets that connection easy customization options without immoderate fuss. With nan app, you tin besides fine-tune your ANC and transparency mode levels, alteration Dolby Atmos audio aliases employment Sound Personalization to algorithmically augment nan tuning to your listening preferences.

Sound zones person besides returned, allowing you to group nan app to automatically set settings based connected your location. Sony does this too, and it tin beryllium adjuvant if you for illustration nan aforesaid configuration each clip you spell location aliases to nan agency aliases nan gym. Just remember: you'll person to springiness nan app location permissions.

One point I admit astir nan Smart Control Plus app is nan expertise to customize nan tiles connected nan location screen. Other companies do this too, but it's still a level of personalization that puts what you usage astir easy wrong reach, and what you don't ever touch retired of sight.

I don't usually telephone attraction to Bluetooth type numbers successful headphone reviews, but there's an absorbing wrinkle location for nan Momentum 5. Sennheiser is shipping nan headphones pinch Bluetooth 5.4, but it says they'll beryllium updated to Bluetooth 6.0 successful nan adjacent future. The main advantages of that will beryllium reduced latency and amended sound quality, but nan Momentum 5 tin grip AAC, aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless codecs correct now. The headphones besides activity pinch Sennheiser's BTD 700 high-res Bluetooth transmitter that shipped pinch nan much premium HD 630 and is disposable arsenic a standalone purchase.

If there's 1 point Sennheiser has consistently nailed connected its Momentum headphones, it's sound quality. The Momentum 4 moreover spent immoderate clip connected our best headphones list for champion wide audio. Nearly 4 years later, nan title is simply a batch stiffer, but nan Momentum 5 besides has fantabulous sound. The institution specifically mentioned that it paid much attraction to separation betwixt various instruments and dialed up nan bass without sacrificing detail. That spatial quality, moreover without Dolby Atmos enabled, is what impressed maine astir about nan tuning of nan 42mm drivers that are inspired by nan open-back HD 600.

The further separation betwixt elements is stuck retired to maine connected American Football's 4th LP (it's virtually called American Football LP4). The band's unique, intricate guitar activity is simply a playground for nan Momentum 5, pinch synths and vocals floating complete nan top, drums keeping nan overseas clip signatures intact underneath. The headphones make it look for illustration you're gliding done nan songs alternatively than conscionable having them beamed into your ears, pinch each instrumentality cutting done nan operation pinch its ain sonic complexity. The fuller bass tuning is evident connected much bombastic tunes, for illustration Bilmuri's "Twice," wherever nan chaos of nan opus ne'er feels crowded aliases compressed — moreover during nan full-throttled span adjacent nan end.

The Momentum 5 supports Dolby Atmos audio now, but nan characteristic isn't astatine its afloat imaginable conscionable yet. Sennheiser said it will present 3D caput search "in nan coming weeks," promising moreover much immersive spatial audio. Unfortunately, successful my opinion, tapping nan Atmos toggle successful nan Smart Control Plus app doesn't amended nan Momentum 5's sound. I for illustration nan banal tuning, moreover pinch contented that's specifically engineered for nan format, because nan vocals are much salient and nan remainder of nan operation seems to slice into nan inheritance pinch Atmos enabled. Overall, songs for illustration "Golden" from K-Pop Demon Hunters (a Steele family favorite) deficiency nan power they usually have. I look guardant to revisiting this erstwhile nan caput search update arrives.

Sennheiser made immoderate large claims astir its ANC improvements erstwhile nan Momentum 5 was announced connected May 25. The institution doubled nan number of microphones utilized for some progressive sound cancellation and transparency modes, truthful there's now 4 connected each side. What's more, Sennheiser said nan expanded setup is up to 3 times much effective astatine blocking annoyances for illustration quality voices.

That committedness held existent during my testing, wherever I needed a highly-capable ANC strategy to artifact nan changeless refrain of Bluey and Peppa Pig successful nan week betwixt schoolhouse ending and summertime campy beginning. I was capable to put connected immoderate tunes and attraction connected activity without nan distraction of iPad-streamed cartoons. Overall, nan Momentum 5 is noticeably amended astatine blocking sound successful wide compared to nan Momentum 4, which intends Sennheiser solved 1 of its past remaining shortcomings versus nan likes of Bose and Sony.

The institution besides claims those further microphones connection "more earthy sound quality" during sound and video calls. Sennheiser's Sidetone feature, nan instrumentality that pipes successful your sound truthful you tin perceive yourself and don't consciousness nan request to shout, is now automatically applied and adjusts based connected nan level of ambient noise. Own Voice Detection is besides onboard, and it identifies nan frequencies of your sound to forestall you from sounding distorted owed to nan sound cancellation.

In practice, I'd opportunity that wide sound capacity has so improved, but not to nan grade that Sennheiser would person you believe. Automatic Sidetone does its occupation well, and it's existent that you don't sound rather arsenic robotic erstwhile inheritance sound cancellation needs to footwear in. However, nan personification connected nan different extremity tin still perceive changeless sound sources for illustration large fans from your side, and overall, sound value lacks nan clarity that immoderate headphones provide. Is nan Momentum 5 bully capable for astir activity calls? Absolutely. Is it nan champion action erstwhile sound fidelity is paramount? Probably not.

One area wherever nan Momentum 5 falls short of its predecessor is artillery life — but not by much. The Momentum 4 could past up to 60 hours connected a complaint pinch ANC enabled, but Sennheiser is promising 57 hours connected this model. That's not a immense difference, but it is less, and whitethorn beryllium disappointing erstwhile you see nan value increase. However, pinch nan upgraded sound value and nan summation of Dolby Atmos pinch caput tracking, I'd reason nan flimsy driblet successful runtime is worthy it if that was needed for nan enhancements to audio performance.

I haven't tested nan Momentum 5 for 60 hours conscionable yet. But based connected my usage pinch ANC enabled astir of nan time, and only switching to transparency mode for a fewer calls a day, I don't spot immoderate logic why Sennheiser's artillery life claims won't clasp up. I'll study backmost if there's immoderate grounds to nan contrary here.

The spread has importantly narrowed betwixt nan best flagship headphones presently connected nan market. Bose and Sennheiser person some caught up to Sony, though that second institution still holds an advantage complete nan remainder successful nan features department. Its 1000X line, including nan caller 1000X The Collexion, continues to connection much devices than you'll find elsewhere. Before now, Sennheiser's biggest area for betterment compared to Sony's WH-1000XM6 and Bose's second-gen QuietComfort Ultra was ANC performance. With nan Momentum 5, nan quality is now incredibly close.

Sennheiser besides offers a worthy Momentum replacement of its own. If sound value is your superior concern, nan HD 630 is simply a sonic powerhouse pinch its included high-resolution Bluetooth dongle and lossless audio complete USB-C. You'll still get 60-hour artillery life here, but each nan audio advantages travel astatine a cost: nan HD 630 is $100 much than nan Momentum 5.

When it comes to nan upgrades, nan Momentum 5's improvements were worthy nan wait. The institution enhanced its already awesome sound floor plan and built a much effective ANC strategy connected this model. Plus, it's slow addressing my creation gripes pinch nan Momentum 4, acknowledgment to mini but meaningful specifications connected this caller version. And though artillery life is somewhat shorter than its predecessor, nan Momentum 5 still gives you days of usage connected a charge, truthful you won't beryllium reaching for a USB-C cablegram that often.

The only 2 issues pinch nan Momentum 5 correct now are value and Dolby Atmos performance. The headphones are $50 much than nan Momentum 4 was astatine launch, which isn't shocking successful today's economy, but a information nonetheless. I'm besides hoping that erstwhile Sennheiser updates Dolby Atmos to adhd caput tracking, nan characteristic will beryllium a boost to nan sound alternatively than a characteristic I mostly ignore. If it tin execute that, nan institution will person a beardown lawsuit for nan apical spot connected galore champion headphones lists.